Unlike the films listed above, “22 Jump Street” is such a killer follow-up because it fully embraces the fact that we’ve seen this story before. Police officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) have already busted drug dealers in high school. What’s the next plausible step? Let’s send them to college!

“22 Jump Street” is a self-aware and frequently laugh-out-loud funny continuation that satirizes formulaic sequels, all while playing with the fact that it, itself, is also a formulaic sequel.

The film opens with a “Previously on ’21 Jump Street’” sequence, immediately reminding you that “21 Jump Street” is a film based on a TV series, and that “22 Jump Street” is a sequel based on a film based on TV series.

After taking down teenage drug dealers in high school, police officers Schmidt and Jenko have moved onto bigger and better cases. And in the films hilarious opening action sequence, the two officers are quick to prove that they’re not yet ready to handle such cases.

In response to their failure, the officers are given another assignment: They must go undercover again, though this time at a local university. Their mission is to stop the spreading of a new synthetic drug called WHYPHY.

While the two try to locate the dealer responsible for selling the drug, Jenko joins a fraternity and shines on the school’s football team while Schmidt, feeling isolated and abandoned, takes solace in the art department. In going their separate ways, their friendship and determination to solve the case is tested.

The film almost plays like a romantic comedy, with Tatum and Hill at the center. They care for each other, get lonely when they’re not together, and even sort of break up and ultimately recapitulate. It’s actually kind of adorable.

It’s undeniable that Tatum and Hill have brilliant comedic chemistry. They’re so great that the film almost suffers when the characters separate and find their different college niches.

The film is fast-paced and in its first 20 minutes, it barely stops to take a breath. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller keep the film at a slick pace, but never so fast that it feels rushed. Though it follows the same structure as “21 Jump Street,” the sequel brings news twists and makes plenty of changes.

Being a send-up of sequels, the film has a lot of fun mocking and referencing the convenience and similarities of certain scenes and situations. “22 Jump Street” makes itself the punch line of its own joke.

The role of Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) -- the foul-mouthed head of the Jump Street division -- is expanded in the sequel. Ice Cube is absolutely hilarious in the role and thankfully, the character is given more screen time and character development.

Overall, “22 Jump Street” is everything a great sequel should be and more.

One more thing: Stay after the credits. The film ends with one of the greatest end-credit sequences of all-time, where the plots of the future “Jump Street” films are revealed.

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